I am writing in my capacity as co-chair of the Ontarians with Disabilities
Act Committee, a voluntary coalition of individuals and community organizations
which have united to advocate for a strong new law in Ontario to achieve a barrier-free society by the year 2000 - the new law to be called the Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

You will recall that on Thursday, May 15, 1997 up to 200 individuals with d
isabilities from Toronto and Southern Ontario came to the Ontario Legislature to find out why the Ontario government has still not enacted the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, nor even undertaken any public consultation leading to its development.

While both opposition parties were prepared to meet with us, no one from the government was prepared to face the disability community to discuss this matter on May 15. We selected this date because it is the first anniversary since the unanimous
passage by the Ontario legislature of an all-party resolution, calling upon the government to keep its promise to pass the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and to work together with our coalition to develop it.

At the close of Question Period we were unable to speak with the Premier.
I spoke with you in the foyer outside the Legislative Chamber, to ask your assistance in bringing to the Premier our request for a meeting with him. You agreed with us that you shared our goal of a barrier-free society for people with disabilities. You also agreed that you supported new legislation toward this objective. You kindly agreed to bring our request to the attention of the Premier. I also asked you to notify me of his response to our request.

I am therefore writing to confirm our discussion and to ask that you notify me of the Premier's response to our request, communicated through you, for a meeting with representatives of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee.